Chaper: 16

((7:30 AM))

Monday had come all too quickly for Naruto. After running around to find a cookbook for Iruka, he had to go straight home and start on his neglected homework. It took him until ten that night to actually finish the assignments that were due Monday. Projects and things could be put off until a few days before they were actually due. So, with the eight hours of sleep he got ((which would have been ample time for anyone else)), he lazily dragged himself to his bus stop. He had made it just on time, he noticed, since it had pulled up only seconds after he'd stopped.

The ride was half an hour long, and he usually used that short time frame to sleep more. He didn't get that lucky though. You see, he lived pretty far from the school, so he wasn't actually in the district. A school bus wouldn't pick him up. He used Iruka's address to stay in the school, but he had to take a public bus to get there. It would drop him off about two blocks away, and he'd run to make it to his first period before the first bell rang. The first bell didn't mean he was late, the third one did. They were all five minutes apart, so that meant fifteen more minutes to sleep.

As before stated, though, he didn't get his half hour luxury on the bus to school. Something that he hadn't noticed before caught his eye. The blonde man from the micoorganisms department at the hospital was on there when he got passed the fare box. Sure, he'd seen him, but he never really took notice. Now that they'd spoken, it got his attention. As he boarded the bus, Naruto tried to point out any other times he'd seen the man on there. Sadly, he remembered seeing him every day before school and debating on whether it was a man or a woman. He couldn't help feeling foolish now, but he could strike up a conversation to chase the feeling away.

"G'd morning," he said as he sat down next to his blonde co-worker for the first time.

He actually didn't seem all that fazed until he turned to see who it was. "Morning Mimi-blonde!! A bit early, don't you think, un?"

"Not at all. I'm headed to school, see?" Naruto patted the bookbag in his lap for emphasis. "I'm always on the bus this early during the school week."

"I see." Deidara turned to reach into a pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "Here you go. It'll make getting on easier, un."

"What is it?" Naruto asked as he took the tiny folded square. Small pieces of paper weren't always his friends.

"Hm? You look a little suspicious, un," Deidara declared with something like shock on his face. "It's just a bus pass. I don't use it all that much. My friend pays for me. Just make sure you tell me when you need it renewed, un. I'll get it done for you." He pinned a smile to the end of his statement to contrat with Natuto's bewilderment.

"For real?" the tiny blonde asked. He wanted to pinch himself, but that would be odd.

"I think so." He pulled on Naruto's hair making him squeeze out a whine of discomfort. "Well, it isn't a dream, so I guess it is real, un."

Naruto made himself breathe. "Thanks so much!" he said, leaning over in his seat to hug Deidara lightly. "I'm just getting all kinds of things lately," he said more to himself than his company. He'd heard him though.

"What do you mean, Mini-blonde?"

"What? Oh!" He gave a nervous chuckle to cover for himself a little. "Nothing. I was just talking to myself really."

"If you say so."

"Can I ask? Who pays for you to ride the bus? And where are you going?"

"Me?" Deidara asked, pointing to himself like there was someone else in the two seater. Naruto nodded just to humor him. "Oh, I'm headed to work, un. Sasori goes before me, so he leaves the money behind."

"You work everyday?" He got a nod. "He leaves it behind? How?"

"On the counter, un. How else would he leave it?"

"Oh," Naruto said with his mouth like a fish. "He lives with you."

"Mm-hm. Has been ever since college, un."

"Must be nice."

Deidara smiled. "Sometimes he can get on your nerves though. He's always right there whenever I turn around, un. Then, he says I scream like a girl. He thinks it's real funny, un." Naruto just gave him a half smile. "He's got his good points though. At least he's always around when I actually need him there for something."

"That's good. I don't normally have people around to help me."

"Aw, parents out a lot?"

"Something like that," Naruto said, smile still stapled in place.

"It's alright, Mini-blonde. I'm sure you'll be okay."

"Of course." He yawned, and suddenly the memories of his not wanting to get out of bed came flooding back to him.

"Tired?" Deidara asked after Naruto had closed his tiny mouth again. He nodded meekly in response. "You can sleep. I don't want to keep you up, un." He twisted around in his seat a little to compensate room for Naruto to slouch a bit.

"Thanks." No more came out of him. He slept until he heard his stop being called over the PA system of the public form of transportation.

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((7:58 AM))

Naruto was skidding through the halls of Konoha P.A. High as soon as he had bounded up the entrence stairs. He flew passed the main office, was a blur by the cafeteria, and merely a blonde streak as he crossed through the student council room. It was a normal occurance, so they didn't mind it much anymore. They knew when to get out of the way, so there was no reason to get upset. He always said he was sorry and thanks on his way out the other door. Once out, he would whiz by the gymnasium and scoot past the library that he knew about before Friday. After he cleared the first building, he went out the back and ascended the stairs to his first period. Asuma's class was in the back building, second floor, end of the hallway, door on the right.

With a whoosh of air he collapsed into his desk, dropping his bag beside him. He sighed contently and settled into a comfortable position before deciding that he would sleep. Unfortunately, that too, like the bus ride, was disturbed. Someone else came in after him. He didn't take the time to look up since it didn't really matter, so long as they didn't bother him.

"Naruto!!" they whined out in dismay. So much for his fifteen minutes.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" he ground out from his nearly sleeping state.

"Naruto, don't be mean," the person said, their voice finally turning normal after dropping the whining tone.

"Sakura... Go away," he begged his female classmate. "I just want to sleep."

"But, I wanted to ask you something," she said, placing herself in the desk next to his.

Naruto moaned as he cracked an eye open. Turning over in his folded arms, he removed her from his sight. She, however, got up and moved. After several minutes, she just stood in front of his desk. Seeing how he wasn't getting out of it, he asked, "What do you want?"

"Yoko said that you went back to Sasuke-kun's house after work the other night."

"So?"

"Really?! Naruto, what's Sasuke-kun's house like?? Is it big? Is it clean?" She gasped. "Did you see his room?!"

"You know, he hates when people call him that," Naruto declared with a yawn.

"Call who what now?"

"He doesn't like being called Sasuke-kun. I think it reminds him of work."

"Oh... So! Did you get started on any of the project while you were there?"

"Eh?" He made himself sit up in his chair and look at her. "What?"

"Well, she said you went because Sasuke-kun thought you were going to slack off on the project."

"Did I say that?" Naruto pulled at his memory to that night at work. 'Don't take it the wrong way!!' he warned before she let the stick meet his lips. 'I don't lean towards that side of the fence. We have a project together, and he thinks I'm going to slack off.' "Oh yeah... I did say that..."

"Well, did you?"

"No, not really. Well, he might've. I sure didn't."

"Oh... Well, that's all I wanted!! You can go to sleep now!!" The first bell went off with an obnoxiously loud buzz to accompany the 8:05 time. Naruto groaned miserably while Sakura walked out to migle before time was up. The second bell was when students actually started filing in class.

"Might as well get up now." He pulled out his mathematics book and flopped it on his desk. He made himself get up from his chair and walk over to the door. Pulling out the stack of papers from the bin, he passed them out to whosoever's desk they belonged. When he finished, he checked the clock. The second bell was due to ring soon. He sighed in annoyance and decided that he'd use the bathroom while he had the chance. Scooting across the hall, he went. As he was coming of out the restroom door, the second bell sounded, and he yawned in a reply to the demand to get into his seat before the last one went off.

"Hey there Porn Star!!" someone shouted into his ear as they flopped a rather warm, heavy arm on his shoulders.

"Hey Bi-st Friend," he said back while making sure that his drowsiness was covered well. Kiba frowned, so Naruto smiled. "Just got out of practice?" the smaller asked, pointing at the red streaks on his friend's face.

"What? Oh, yeah. I kind of like the theater make-up now," Kiba said poking at it to see if it had dried. It did, so it wasn't coming off until he at least took a shower.

"Oh! That reminds me!" Naruto gasped as he knocked himself in the head. "Kiba, what's going on with Shino??"

"Hm?" Kiba removed his arm and let it slap to his side. "How'd you find out about that?"

"I know people... Oh! What's up with Kank' too??" Naruto had long since abandoned his idea of sleep.

Kiba put on a look that crossed somewhere between depressed and pouting. He slid his hands into the pockets of his uniform pants and huffed out a sigh. "Well... Me and Shino are kind of-- I guess you could say on a break for a while."

"Why? I thought you two were in love??"

"Don't joke at it Naruto." Kiba averted his gaze down the hall and spotted a certain someone. He sighed again and, grabbing Naruto by the elbow, shuffled into the classroom.

"Kiba, what happened?"

He shrugged in dismay. "I don't know. He just said I was getting too comfortable and coming in his space, which, obviously, he needs to himself."

"Well geez. Really Kiba, you don't have to go and start dating other people just because."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kiba sat himself on the edge of a desk and pushed at the ground to stay up. "All I did was talk to Hinata. Of course, I got shot down, but I didn't do anything else."

"Did you not hear me mention Kank' in the hall?" Naruto asked.

"Oh... Kankurou... Yeah. Sorry, forgot about that."

"Tell meeeee," Naruto begged as he tugged on the jacket of his friend's uniform.

"If you must know--"

"You know I do."

Kiba smiled. "If you must know, something did happen during practice a few days ago after school. I was being all emo, and he saw me. He didn't want me to be all pissy since he had to see me for the next three hours, so he tried to cheer me up. Let me tell you: as a motivational speaker-- he sucks." Kiba was glad to see his tiny friend was in his normal laughing mood again since Friday. The way he walked out during lunch wasn't like him, and while they were talking in history, he didn't seem like himself. From the begining of the day to the end, he'd gone from chipper, to miserable, to lost in a daze. He appreciated having his prankster of a friend back.

"Okay Kiba. You have to tell me what actually happened," Naruto stated after collecting himself.

"Well, I told him that he wasn't doing a good job at pepping me back up, but I was grateful for the effort. Which was true."

"Since when do you say things like that?"

Kiba stuck out his tongue. "Since I'm emotionally unstable. Anyway, he asked me what he could do. I said he could help me with my make-up. I never get it on straight, or even, or anything like it's supposed to be. He said he would if I did his for him."

"That makes no sense."

"Yes, it does. I can't put on my own make-up, but I sure as hell can put on someone elses. It comes out really well when I do, too. Thanks so much, Naruto."

"I'm sorry okay? So-- let me guess. You were doing each other's make-up, got caught up, then you got banged up?"

"Uhhhm... no. We talked... for a long time. A really long time. And, I kind of liked it. He said he wanted to talk to me before I left this morning too."

"Kiba... Does this mean you're getting a new boyfriend?"

Kiba stuck out his bottom lip and stared down at his little friend. "You know you're the only boyfriend I'll ever have Naru-chan."

"I'm serious," Naruto said with a light chuckle. "Are you giving up on Shino?"

Kiba sighed. "Yeah... I think I might if he doesn't do something now. I like engaging in conversation, and Shino doesn't. Kank' sure as hell does though. Maybe... I don't know." He sighed again. "I do like Shino, really. You've seen it right?" Naruto nodded. "I dunno. I'm just going to run with it and see where it goes."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll be fine," Naruto said patting his friend's back. "But do me a favor. Do you have Kank's number?"

"Of course I do." Kiba fished in his pants' pockets until he found what he was looking for. He unfolded the small cue card and read off the numbers. "What do you need if for anyway?"

"To keep up with your company, duh. I just got a phone. Now I can go around without checking my sock to make sure the numbers didn't ware away."

"You got a phone??"

"I did," Narto said rather triumphantly. "Want to see it?"

"Of course I do you moron." Naruto let the comment roll off his back as soon as his eyes rolled up to the ceiling. He went back over to his desk and seachered through his bag's front pouch. He pulled out his new device and displayed it to his best friend.

"You likey?"

"Me doey!!" Kiba snatched it and started rummaging through the red communicater's contents. "Naruto, where'd you get this?"

"Cingular."

"Don't be a smartass," Kiba comanded in slight frustration. "For serious. Your jobs, including that other one I hate you for, don't pay enough to keep up with minutes... and internet access... and instant messaging service... Dammit! Where'd you get this?" he demanded after going through the phone's contents besides the numbers.

"I have connections thanks." Naruto snatched the small thing from Kiba's hands and put it back in place. "I can assure you that I didn't steal it."

"I never said that. I was just wondering... Oh, never mind." Kiba sat in his desk in front of Naruto's and got out his math book. Naruto sat in his as the rest of the class began to rush in through the doors. They sat in their designated seats and waited the few seconds that they had to spare before the final bell rang. Once it did, as if on cue, their instructor waltzed in and pulled the door behind him.

"Everyone here?" he asked. There was only silence for a response. "Great! That means you are." Asuma said behind his large teachers' desk and waited with the rest of his class for the announcements to begin.

"Hey, Naruto," Kiba said over his shoulder as he turned around a little.

"What?"

"Any thoughts on what I should do?"

Naruto gave him a lopsided smile due to his face being half smooshed into the text book on his desk. "I'm the worst person to ask about that kind of thing. Just ask Uchiha." And then he slept through the announcements.

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((8:15 AM))

Somewhere in the other building of the school, the student council was preparing for the announcements. It was decided that Lee would be the one in front of the camera this time. When the classroom TVs clicked on, a hush rippled across the campus save for the other members. Lee started the announcements, and that was the cue for the other students in the room to do as they needed.

"Uchiha," Neji called from his spot in front of the school newspaper. It was open and waiting to be put together for release.

"What?" Sasuke called back from the other end of the room. Most people would find it odd that they had a coffee machine in there, but everyone else thought it was normal. Every extra curricular activity that Sasuke was in had one. He was an addict.

"Come here dumbass."

"You know," the younger teen said as he started to walk over, cup in hand, "you're really going to stop talking to me like that. I haven't done anything bad to you lately. If I remember, it was the other way around."

"Yeah, yeah. Okay look." Neji pushed his glasses up a bit on his nose. "I need an opinion. Should the game results go next to the pyramid picture, or should I leave them on the front page?"

"Mm... I can't really see. Here, give me." He leaned over a bit and swiped Neji's glasses from their perch. Before he had a chance to protest, Sasuke said, "Dear cousin, I don't have my glasses with me. When's the last time you've even seen them?" Neji frowned as they were fitted into place by someone else. "Oh wow... same perscription? That's convenient. But, aside from that now." He looked over the paper and shook his head.

"What?" the pale eyed boy asked, a bit offended.

Sasuke took the glasses off and handed them back. "Did you know you scratched these? Were they in your pocket when you hit the floor the other day?" Neji just wanted to kill him right there, but that would be immoral. "Anyway, I say you keep them on the front page. Use the picture of the cheerleader pyramid for the details on the games."

"Alright."

"Sasuke!!" Tenten called from her area in the room. He shuffled over and stood next to her and her calculator, recipts, and reports.

"What?" he asked in a little annoyance.

"I need to know-- What do you think the budget for the retreat should be?"

"That depends on what it's for," he said, pulling out a chair from under the circular table. This was bound to take a while. She usually talked too fast to decipher anything. Normal people she didn't know heard mixed languages. If you listened though, you just might have caught it. Somehow, Sasuke was able to slow it down in his head by watching her lips intently. This is how he does it:

"Idonthvaetheslightestonhowtokeepthingsba lancedanymore!!"

I-don't-have-the-slightest-on-how-to-keep-things-balanced-anymore. He just nodded.

"Thebusesalonearekickingmyassandistillhav entfiguredouthowimgoingtodispursetherais edmoneytothestudents!!"

The-buses-alone-are-kicking-my-ass-and-I-still-haven't-figured-out-how-I'm-going-to-dispurse-the-money-to-the-students.

"Theyneedsomethingtodoatthatstupidcentero therthanlistentospeechesallday!!"

They-need-something-to-do-at-that-stupid-center-other-than-listen-to-speeches-all-day.

She was about to start again, but he stopped her. "Alright. Listen." She put everything down and gave him her full attention, otherwise, she might have started rambling again. "I know we have a couple thousand in the treasury left over, right?" She nodded. "Tenten, this is like a private school, and there aren't that many people going anyway. Out of the ones who are, most of their parents are giving them money. As for the buses, get like... four. Give each kid eighty bucks, and you should be fine."

She took a huge inhale of breath. "Ohmigosh!! Thankyousomuch!!"

Sasuke just nodded before he got up. "Sasuke-kun!!" another one of them called.

He groaned a little before turning around to look for Hinata. He found her. "What?"

"I need your help since Neji-niisan is busy."

"I'm coming." Sasuke dragged his feet across the floor to get over to her and her papers. "What?" he asked once he'd reached her.

"I just need to know if you think the nature speeches should go on the schedule?"

"Nah. Make them voluntary."

"Mm-kay."

"Uchiha," said someone else.

"What?!" Sasuke called back in sheer irritation as he turned to see who it was. "Oh."

"Yeah... I'll ignore that," Gaara commented from his position next to the coffee machine as he discarded his own cup. He too was in love with the substance. "Anyway, I need to ask you something that's actually important."

"O-okay." Gaara beckoned for him to follow him out, and he did so. He left his cup on a table on his way out. "What is it?"

"Just a quick question. Does Naruto seem... different to you?"

"What kind of different?"

"Different as in... distracted. I don't have proof, but I know you kick his ass on the regular. So, just tell me what you've noticed."

"Ahh..." He was trying to think-- but his brain wasn't letting him. Although insanely uncharacteristic, Sasuke, like most of the student body, was actually scared of Gaara. He had a reputation that rode with rebellions and gangs. Never fun to get caught up in that.

"That's not really an answer you know."

"Sorry. No, I haven't noticed anything," Sasuke stated on default. Under pressure, he didn't always think well, so there was no point in trying.

"Fine. I'll ask him later. You can leave now," the redhead said with a tone of arrogance.

"Mm-hm." Sasuke turned and ducked back into the student council room. He hated leaving like that, and being a chicken-shit, but Gaara had kicked his ass a few times prior. He didn't really want it happening again. As soon as he went to throw out his coffe cup, he had a stack of papers shoved under his nose.

"Deliver. Back building. All classes. Now." He didn't even get to protest to Neji before he was pushed out the door. He made a sound of annoyance in the back of his throat as he pressed on to the second building of the school

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((8:20 AM))

"Alright!" Asuma said from his spot in front of his first class of the day. He turned to the board and picked up his Expo marker. ""Today," he said as he started scribbling on the board, "we're going to start trigonometry."

Naruto perked up a little when he heard the groans of the other students. School had started, so he toned in a bit.

"Don't moan," Asuma ordered. "I can't smoke on campus, so don't give me shit." The class just dulled down to murmers. "Okay then. Now, the first thing about trigonometry that you need to know is that it's all about triangles. We're going to start off with finding missing measures of sides. If you don't have a calculator, I advise you get one now."

Everyone, except Naruto, got up to get one from the front of the classroom. Kiba was kind enough to bring him his like he did every other Monday. The blonde mumbled out something that sounded like thank you but stayed in his lax position.

"Got one?" Asuma called from the front again. "Good. Now, the first thing you need to know about triangles are these four terms: pythagorean theorem, sine, cosine, and tangent. Now, those last three functions can be found here on your calculator, and--" A knock on the door cut him off. He sighed and said, "Come on."

"Sorry professor, but I was asked to deliver these. Could you take the time to read it?" Sasuke asked as he stepped in.

"Sure." Asuma took the paper off the top of the stack and skimmed it. "You need to take somebody, huh?" He turned back to his first period and frowned. "I take it no one actually wants to miss this unimaginably hard lesson?" No one moved. "Of course not. So let's see..." His eyes wandered over the heads of his students, but he couldn't find a certain one. He could normally point out the yellow shock that sat in the middle of the room.

"Sir?" Sasuke called impaciently from the door.

"UZUMAKI!!" Asuma shouted as he slammed his fist on the corner of his large desk.

"PYTHAGORUS!!" he shouted back as he bolted up in his seat. He looked around as the surpressed laughter rippled through the room. He sighed and looked at his teacher with an expression of exhaustion. "Sorry."

"Again, this isn't history, Naruto."

"But... Pythagorus created the Pythagorean Theorem, right?"

Asuma mumbled curses on his life to himself. "Get up and go with this guy since you obviously don't care enough to listen to my lesson."

Naruto slammed his head on his desk with a groan of self-disgust. "Yes Sir," he grumbled as he dragged his feet to the door. When he made it out, he leaned on the nearest wall and dropped into a light doze.

"Uhm... Thanks," Sasuke said before leaving the room. Turning to Naruto after shutting the door he asked, "What is wrong with you?"

"I'm just tired," the younger stated with a yawn.

"Naruto, why are you always like this?"

"I'm a busy person," the blonde said as he slid down the wall. "Attacks of pain in the middle of the night every now and then aren't fun either."

"That's still bothering you?"

"And it's going to keep bothering me. I don't mind so much." He stopped to yawn. "I usually sleep in the morning, but I didn't get that chance today."

"I see."

"So, what do you need kids for again?"

Sasuke reached over to pull Naruto to his feet. As he did so, he said, "Hyuuga. I think he's taking a poll or something."

"Right. You didn't read the papers?"

"No. And he gave me too many. I've got like... ten left; that was the last class."

"I wanna see." Naruto swiped one of the flyers and brought it up under his face to read it. "It says: To which ever professor this may concern, The student council is holding a poll of the student body for the retreat trip in the up-coming month. We ask that you lend one student that won't be a bother to part with to aid us in this action. Please excuse your choice student from work or class time so he slash she won't have to make it up."

"That sounds about right. He's taking it upon himself to run the council now, huh?" Sasuke threw the other papers into a nearby trashcan easily. "He's got some nerve."

"Alright there?" Naruto called from his spot on the wall again.

"I don't care how old he is; I run the council dammit!"

"Sasuke, what the hell?" Naruto demanded when Sasuke kicked at the wall. "Dumbass! Instead of bitching about something so stupid, why don't we go back to the council room, and then you can piss and moan about a stack of papers?"

"Shut- up."

"No. You're the one crying over something so idiotic as this. I thought you were bigger than that, Sasuke?" Naruto crossed his arms and sent a leer in his elder's direction. Sasuke just glared right back. "And I don't think he's trying to run the council, baka. I think he's just trying to get the trip together."

"Says you, you don't know Hyuuga."

"So what? You're just being a baby about something retarded for, what I assume, is a retarded reason." Naruto finally pushed himself off the wall, totally forgetting about the idea of rest, and started off down the hall.

"Where are you going?" Sasuke called after him.

"Where else, dumbass?" he scoffed without stopping. "I can't believe you're being so stupid right now. What is it? Withdrawl? PMS? Some kind of craving for something? If you asked me, I'd say you're just acting like a woman."

"You're one to talk," Sasuke said from some yards away after he'd started following his blonde friend.

"I know. Guess I'm smart, huh?"

"Apparently not."

Naruto turned around, anger clearly plastered on his face. "Don't fuck with me; I'm tired. I get mad real quick when I'm tired."

"Oh... That's why you're bitching at me? Any other time you'd just brush it off, right?"

"No," Naruto corrected as he started walking backwards. "I'd still be bitching. I'm just giving you a warning before I snap on your ass."

Sasuke just cocked an eyebrow. "Idiot," he said before shoving the blonde a bit so that he almost ran into a water fountain.

"Cut it out Uchiha," he ground out before falling into step next to his friend again. Sasuke just pushed him, and he almost stumbled into a trashcan. "Dammit... I'm really serious here," he said rather forcefully.

"I'll take a chance," the raven-haired teen said before tripping him into a door.

"Dammit Sasuke!!" Naruto recovered quicker than he normally would have and slammed his right fist into Sasuke's cheekbone. He stumbled back, taken off gaurd, and rubbed at his assulted features. ((note 1))

"What the hell--?"

"I said leave me alone you ass!!" Naruto shouted before stalking off down the stairs.

"Jesus..." Sasuke moaned as he walked behind the blonde down the stairs. "Doesn't tired mean out of energy? I think you almost split me face..."

"I told you to stop," the petite stated bluntly.

"Well, yeah, but... You never hit me that hard in any fights or anything. Not even when I was on you in the halls."

"Get over it."

"Aww... You're mad at me," Sasuke said like he hadn't known the fact already. "What'd I do?"

"Nothing. I'm tired. Shit... I said that already."

"Then that punch had to take everything out of you, huh?" Sasuke finally let his hand fall from his abused face and poked the tiny freshman in the head.

"Please don't mess with me," Naruto more so ordered while his head bobbed back. Kityasha's effects were starting to wear off a bit too soon for his liking nowadays.

"But it's fun," Sasuke said as he started veering toward the wall of lockers.

"You don't have to be mean about it though." He stifled a yawn before he felt his back hit the row of metal storage behind him. "Oh come on."

"It's your fault. You made it too easy," Sasuke declared before ensconcing him about the waist. He pulled at the rosy lips before him with his own and listened as a noise crept its way from the back of Naruto's throat.

"Sasuke... don't do this," he begged while he turned his head to escape the rain of kisses on his neck from his class president.

"Why?" he asked, pausing only briefly in his acts.

"Because... I don't want you to if--"

"If what?" Sasuke asked, looking up and pushing his forehead to the younger's.

"If you won't... --how to say this..?-- date me?"

"Hn. Fine then," he agreed before trying to proceed in his activities.

"Excuse me?" Naruto interjected, pushing Sasuke slightly on the chest.

"I said fine; don't ruin this, please?" he beseeched, pinching his waist to pull him out of killing the mood.

"Sasuke... It can't work like that..." the smaller said, pushing him back again.

"Like what?" the obsedian eyed teen whined.

"Sasuke, you can't just side with it to get something."

Sasuke sighed at the lost moment. There was no chance in getting it back now either. "I didn't."

"You did!" Naruto pushed.

"No. If you haven't figured it out, I like things straight forward. All that shit the other morning threw me off."

"Explain?" Naruto asked, moving his hands up to rest on the broad shoulders before him.

"You're gonna make me embarrass myself?" he asked with a slight blush. When Naruto locked his haands behind Sasuke's head and nodded, the Uchiha seemed to wilt before giving his elaboration. "Alright. Well... I guess it goes back to meaning it. The way you said it the first time was too... picturesque. Things never go like that. We're not in a movie, Uzumaki."

"So?"

"So it shouldn't sound rehersed the way it did," the taller concluded.

"Sasuke," Naruto chirped from between him and the wall.

"What?"

"You're re-eee-ed," he teased.

"Stupid," the Uchiha spat in self-contempt.

"You're gonna do it?"

"Of course you idiot."

The tiny boy let a hum wiggle from his vocals in happiness. "Don't be mean."

"That's just how I am," Sasuke declared, attempting to kiss him again.

"You know... you can get sick from this, right?" ((note 2))

"I know." This time, Naruto let him in. Apparently, Sasuke didn't care if he went to the doctor for whatever his reason because he kept trying-- even when Naruto didn't like him at all. He could catch a lethal illness, and it still wounldn't matter to him. That made Naruto smile. He might've ripped his cheeks open again if he wasn't trying to keep in synch with the apendage that was invading his mouth.

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((8: 35 AM))

"Where the hell were you?" Neji demanded when the two finally joined the rest of the student council.

"Bathroom," Sasuke said, raising his top lip in disgust.

"And you went with him why?"

"God... I mean, it's not like we were making a Porn-O or anything. We really did stop to use the bathroom, right?"

"Yes, but don't pull me into your petty arguements, teme," Naruto said while he walked past them. He took a seat next to Hinata's table and decided to strike up a conversation while the other two members put on a debate.

"Naru-chan!" Hinata gushed when he sat down. "Have to ask: Still not looking for someone?" Naruto shook his head. How ironic. He'd normally say no because he wasn't interested. "Alright," she sighed.

"Hey, Hinata-chan?"

"Yeah?" she called from her scheduling in front of her.

"Will you tell me what's so damn great about the Lexus now? Like... three people have tried to tell me, but something always goes wrong. Help me out?" he seemed to beg.

"You still don't know?" she asked, lifting her head to show him a shocked face. He shook his head, and she giggled. "Wow. I thought that would get out sooner or later. It's a huge thing around the estates."

"Estatessss??"

"Oh. Ours and his." Naruto nodded an understanding, so she continued. "So anyway, you know he got it when he was thirteen, right?"

"I've gathered as much."

"M-kay. Well, sixth graders aren't supposed to drive. However, Itachi took him out in their courtyard thing out behind their summer place."

"Why the summer place?" Naruto interrupted.

"His birthday's in July."

"... Right."

"Okay. So, while they were out doing thier little test run, someone said that they saw them in town. The whole house freaked, and started making all kinds of crazy assumptions. As I'm sure you know, Itachi wasn't all bad. He was rebellious though. So, some of the servants thought that maybe he took him out to eat and let him do the driving. That was dangerous, but it wasn't too bad. Then, some other people just heard, 'took him out to eat.'"

"So what?"

"They repeated that somewhere too. But, someone only heard the 'took him out part.'"

"Still not catching it," Naruto stated.

"Naruto, what does taking someone out mean in the common sense of the phrase?" Hinata asked as if he were stupid.

"I don't know. I can't think."

"It means that they thought that I was involved with my older brother," Sasuke sighed, suddenly apparating behind Hinata's chair. She jumped a little, but not many people saw it. "Still frigid?" he teased. She just frowned up at him."What?"

"How could you not tell him about that?" she asked.

"Because that's not why it's special," he reasoned. "That's just something that goes around our houses." He poked her hard on the shoulder and she turned back around.

"Right. The real reason it's special is because that's where they always had sex."

Sasuke shoved her hard, and she almost fell out of her chair. "Stop lying!" he ordered after seeing the shocked look that had drawn itself on Naruto's face. "That is so not true Hinata."

"I know," she sighed in a rather bored tone. "Just trying to make things a little interesting."

"I'll send for you when I need entertainment." She huffed, so he added on to make her mad. "Why don't you go molest your cousin you blind freak?"

Hinata actually slammed down her pencil and pushed her scheduling aside. "That was out of line!" she barked.

"So was the bit about my relative."

"And we aren't blind!!"

"It sounds a lot more truthful than a chemical accident far back along the family line though," he sighed to exaggerate. ((Note 3))

"That is true!" she persisted. He realized that he wasn't going to find out anything about that car, so Naruto watched as their arguement continued. All around the council room there was activity. Gaara was, as expected, working on typing up the notices and articles to go in the paper. After Sasuke had left him, Neji got back on his task of putting the week's paper together and doing research for the next one. Lee was trying to help Tenten with the budget, but she was too full of herself to listen to anyone. Kabuto was actually nowhere to be spotted, he noticed. He decided that he was just on an errand. Leaning back in his chair a bit, he caught sight of the other students that were assembled for the poll. He hoisted himself from his chair and strode over to Neji, who was currently standing behind Gaara who was on the computer.

"What?" Neji asked the tap on his shoulder.

"You ditched us," Naruto said, gesturing to the other fifteen or so out-of-place students.

"Eh?" He actually turned around. "Oh, right," he said straightening himself out. He walked over to join them along with Naruto. Neji removed his glasses and slipped them into his pocket. One girl, out of complete context, asked if that was safe. He just didn't answer her.

"What are we here for, Neji?" Naruto asked from his spot up front.

The pale-eyed boy shot him a look that could freeze magma on the spot. "You and I aren't on first name terms," he explaned, icy venom dripping from every word.

"Fucking lunatic," the blonde mumbled before consulting him again. "Okay, fine. Why are we gathered O Gracious Hyuuga?" he asked with a lavish bow. A giggle rippled through the small audience.

"Don't start with this again, Uzumaki."

"What you mean again?! This is the first time!! And what happened to... I thought--! At the hospital?? Oh nevermind." Naruto settled for dragging his chair closer to his redheaded friend and leaning against him like a recliner.

"Cut the shit, Hyuuga," the insomiac ordered, leering over his shoulder. "I don't like you as is; don't make it worse."

Neji just took a breath and turned back to the other assembled students. "You're taking a poll," he said as if it were a command instead of an explanation. "I'll hand it to you, and then you just check the box you want. Easy as that. Sit if you want." They obliged, and he started handing out the sheets along with pencils.

When he got to Naruto, the small teen just snatched the things and began filling out the sheet on his leg. When he was finished, he told Gaara to take care of it, he said he would, and Naruto left. He started off to his first period again, but he came across that long, winding hallway Iruka had led him down Friday. Out of curiosity, he turned and headed toward what he now knew as the "old" library. He thought he might look around to see why the school didn't really want it anymore. Which actually made no sense to him since they could just remove those books but, whatever makes the board happy.

He reached the large wooden doors and was a bit surprised to see his psychology professor there again.

"Kakashi?" he called out as he neared the entrance.

The lax man looked up and sent him a smile. "Naruto. Shouldn't you be in class?"

"They took me down to the council room," he explaned as he came to a stop a few feet away.

"I see. Well, what is it?"

"I just wanted to see what was so bad about the old library. That's all."

"Oh." Kakashi was silent for a while, seemingly contemplating on his next decision. Being the impulsive person he was, however, he decided to just hand Naturo the book he was reading.

"What is it?"

"Open it first kid." He did so but shut it only seconds after. "Well, that's what's bad about it."

"What was that?" Naruto demanded.

"Porn," the silver-haried man stated in one, point-blank syllable.

"Well... I guess this is my new hideout in school then."

Kakashi cocked a brow and gave him an awkward look. "I'm sorry?"

"No one would think I'm in here with that," he explaned. "I'm not one to look at freeze-frame graphics. I skip over those."

"I see."

"Well, I'm going to be late. Buh-bye."

"Third period."

"Gotcha." Naruto started off toward his back building again.

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((10:35 AM))

"Okay Naruto. Make it through third avoiding that prick, Shino, and stomach pains-- and all should be good. Just make it to lunch." Naruto was speaking to himself in his desk by the window. After being sure that he'd be fine, he chose to stare out the window. The bell had rung, but no one was actually worried about being in their seats. So, he dug in his backpack for his special notebook and sat on the window ledge. Even though it was lined paper, he was determined to sketch a good view of the school's garden before the day was out. And his spot, at the moment, was the best that the facility could offer. He started his controlled scribbling contently while he waited for class to start.

"Naruto," someone said from behind him.

Said blonde turned around to look over his shoulder. A scowl distorted his face when he caught sight of the sophomore. "I disown you, so leave me be," Naruto commanded as he turned back to his sketching.

"Naruto, just listen," Neji begged.

"I refuse."

"Why?"

"Are you retarded?" Naruto asked, never looking from his task. "You just snubbed be in first period. I'm not talking to you."

"I want to tell you why I did though. I can't have that?" Neji asked, careful not to sound desperate.

"No. But, here's something interesting. Call me crazy, but I think your ex is trying to hookup with my best friend over there."

"Really, I don't care."

"Excuse me?" Naruto decided he cold maybe stop for this. "Weren't you whining about it the other day? Or am I insane?"

"You're going to make me do this?" Naruto nodded, and Neji ran a hand through his hair. His fingers caught at the elastic band, so he just pulled it out. "Can I sit here?" he asked, gesturing to the other half of the window sill. He got an affirmative, so he sat.

"So tell me. Why the hell did you do that in the council room?"

"Issues." He started twirling his hair at the ends while gazing out the window.

"Plan on elaborating that statement?" Naruto asked, a bit bored with the conversation.

The older boy sighed and flipped his hair over his shoulder. Scowling at the trees outside, he pieced together his arguement in his mind. "Alright. I've got an image and--"

"You've got to be a prick all the time to keep it up?" Naruto guessed.

"In simpler terms, yes." He closed his seemingly pupil-less eyes and started pulling his hair up again. "But you must know, that really is an act. I'm not that bad."

"Yeah I know. I just wish you guys didn't do that." He tossed his book the small distance to his desk and sighed. "Gaara's a bastard, Sasuke's annoying, you're an ass..." Glancing back up, he chanced a spare look at his aquaintence. A smile chose to grace him when a revelation hit. "You know, you've got really long hair, Neji."

"I clap for your intelligence."

"No, really. It's almost as long as my boss's. You should wear it out sometime."

"Why?"

"It'd look better!" Naruto said offering up a smile that couldn't be refused.

"You think so?"

"I do." He stood and dusted off the back of his pants before consulting his elder again. "Now like I was saying, you might want to check on Kankurou before Kiba whisks him away."

"Like I said before: I really don't care."

"Didn't sound that way to me at work," Naruto reasoned while his eyebrows knit themselves together.

"Nevermind it. I'll tell you some other time." Neji sighted as he removed himself to go to his assigned seat.

Naruto flopped in his and placed his head on his desk. But, like the preceeding times of his day, something went wrong. There was a tap on his shoulder and he mumbled out a "huh" to whoever it was.

"Would you look up at me, Naruto?"

The tiny blonde groaned and rolled his head on his desk. "Yes, Gaara?"

"What's wrong with you lately?" the redhead asked as he sat in Sakura's seat. She was in the back of the room talking with Ino, so she wouldn't care. Although, he wouldn't care if she was or not. It just made everyone happy.

"What do you mean?"

"You seem so distracted. What's up?"

"Does it show? I'm sorry." He turned in his desk and propped his feet up on Gaara's lap. Leaning his chin on his fist, Naruto started speaking again. "I guess I'm just starting to let things get to me."

"Like what?"

"Like my fucking stomach pains."

"Naruto," his friend scolded, "I told you to talk to Orochimaru about that. It started a little while after the club, right?"

"Yeah, but it's not that bad... is it?"

"Yes, it is," Gaara said rather assertively, poking him on the shoulder. "I even went as far as asking Uchiha if something was wrong with you."

"Why would he know?" Naruto asked. Gaara was supposed to be unaware of any interaction between the two.

"He kicks your ass on the regular. He'd have to notice something, right?"

"I guess," Naruto mumbled, making sure to hide his relief.

"Say, Naruto..."

"What?"

"You never told me what all that was from. Just when it started. Plan on it?"

Naruto stretched his arms out behind him and yawned. "Why not? Do me a favor though-- be my pillow."

"Alright," the sophomore said with a shrug. He opened his arms and made a motion for Naruto to come over. The boy got up, dragged his feet across the floor, and flopped onto his friend's lap. "That tired, huh?"

"Yep," he admitted, resting his head on the elder's shoulder. "So... when this all started, right?"

"Please."

"Okay." He closed his eyes and frowned, yelling at his memory to recall. "Alright, this is what happened. Well, you know that I was living alone when I was ten, right? Right. Well, I have to go through an alley to get to my place. I was on my way back from school, and I got mugged."

"Since when do you get mugged?" Gaara asked giving him an odd look.

"Since I started going outside. I'm actually very distinguishable. I owe that to Derek."

"Oh, sorry." Gaara looked away after that comment. He had a tendency to bring up bad things on accident.

"S'alright. So, listen. These guys just happened to think I was the cutest damn thing." He lowered his voice to a grumble as he said, "They took me home."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes... They didn't do anything though. I thanked God for that then. If only he spared me the next day as well. See, they took me to Akatsuki because they thought I made a good recommendation. I owe Derek for always being mugged, and the regulars that mugged me for getting me in the club."

"Why'd these people want to mug you anyway??"

"They heard about my escape after sacking my house, and they thought it was amazing. No one ever got away from that duo, apparently." Gaara nodded.

"So, these guys got you for the challenge, then took you to the club?"

"Right, so, you know how everyone starts off there, right? Of course you do. Well, I got initiated and was threatened into coming back when I was supposed to."

"So when did that shit start?"

"After my first stage performance. Soooo sucked." He sighed and burried himself further into Gaara's jacket. "One of those bastards took me in the back."

"You're serious?"

"Very. And it hurt so bad... I passed out. That was a year after I started. Luckily, Orochimaru said I could just work the lounge after that. He didn't like the idea of me with other guys... I guess."

"Wait a minute." Gaara grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back a bit. "That was four years ago?"

"You were there. You can count. Do the math."

"Naruto, whatever that is... that could be seriously bad now, man."

Naruto sighed and looked at his friend. "I know," he said, eyes full of despair.

Gaara sighed himself and rubbed between where his eyebrows should have been. "Why haven't you done anything about it yet?"

"I dunno. I could think of a million excuses though."

"You're going," Gaara stated. "And I'm making sure that you get there."

"Excuse me?" he said for the third time that day.

"I'm making you see a doctor. You work in a hospital for God's sake. You should have done it already."

"But Gaara... What if they say something is wrong with me??"

"Then you get it fixed." He gestured for Naruto to scoot off and stood after he did so.

"But what if--"

"You aren't dying. I promise."

Naruto scowled with distrust. "How do you know?"

Gaara actually smiled. "Might be something I've seen before."

Naruto perked from his somber mood. "What was it?"

"I'll tell you if that's what you've got." Naruto sucked his teeth then moaned. "Later." Gaara left him for his seat, and the blonde sat back in his own. Sakura decided to come over after that.

"Naruto!" she shrieked.

"What?" he asked, turning to look out the window again.

"How could you let him steal my seat like that?" she huffed. "And on top of it, you sat on him!"

"We were talking."

"But Naruto! I had to talk to Ino for the longest time because of that!"

"Sorry."

"Don't act like you care!" she shouted. The chatter of the room started to die down a bit as students listened in.

"Sakura... Calm down," he said, turning to look at her with a bit of worry in his eyes.

"No!" she cried. "I won't! No one says anything just because you're friends with that bully!!"

Naruto blinked in utter surprise. "W... what?"

"You heard me!" she scolded. "You do things all the time to piss us off, but we just pretend that we don't care because we think he'll do something!!"

"Is that true?"

"Yes it's true!! Ask anyone, and they'll tell you!!"

He looked around the room waiting for someone to side with her, but no one obliged. "Uhm..."

"Fine!" she shrieked. "Keep pretending then! I sure won't. I'm stuck with him for a month!!" A slight hum started up about the room again.

"Sakura, it isn't that much of a deal. All he did was sit. You could have sitten in my desk for the two minutes."

"Why would I want to?!"

"Alright. I'm sorry. Can you just, stop yelling? Please?" Naruto begged.

"I'm not yelling!!"

"Okay!! You're not yelling. Can you just... sit then?"

"No!! I will not do what you tell me to!!"

"Sakura... I thought you were at least somewhat of a friend..." Naruto looked down at his hands and fisted bunches of his jacket in them. "What's wrong?"

"You're what's wrong!!" she said. "I liked you on Friday, but then I found out what you said about me!!"

"Sakura... I didn't say anything." She shook her head as if it were going to impeed her listening. "Sakura, really. Who told you I said something?"

"It doesn't matter!!" the pink-haired girl continued as the classroom door clicked behind her. "What matters is that you said it!!" The rest of the room was totally silent, but the two of them didn't notice. "No one would say something like that just to say it!!"

"Sakura... can I just ask what I said, then?"

"I'm not repeating that!!" she said as she spread her hands across his desk. "No self-respecting woman would repeat such a thing as--!!" She stopped short when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around, hair whipping her in the face, with an angry scowl in place. "What?!"

"That's enough, Sakura," Sasuke firmly stated. "Sit down. Now."

"Oh... S-Sasuke-kun. When did you get in here?" she asked, giggling nervously.

"A while after you started verbally abusing the poor kid."

"R-really? Well," her tone started to grow louder as she continued, "you don't know what he said about me!! You'd probably be angry with him as well!!"

Sasuke glowered at her and slid his hands in his pockets. "Really, I don't care. And really, I wouldn't mind if he said anything about me."

"B-but Sasuke-kun!! It was so--!!"

"Haruno! That's enough." Sakura was startled at his sudden agressiveness and complied with his wishes. "Alright then. Ino!" he called to the back.

"Y-yes??" she sputtered back immediately.

"What did he allegedly say?"

"Uhm..." She twiddled with her fingers and averted her gaze as much as she could.

"Yamanaka!!" he growled.

"Sakura told me that he said she was a two-faced whore!!" Ino casted her gaze downward and sat in her seat as soon as she'd finished.

"B-but!! I'd never say anything like that!!" Naruto vouched. "Honest!! That's something I'd never tread on!!"

Sasuke sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Naruto, why wouldn't you?"

"Huh?"

"Why wouldn't you say that?" the elder asked. "I need a reason or I can't fix this."

"I'm not saying that outloud..." He looked for Gaara through the corner of his eye. "Just believe me?"

"I can't. That's my job as class president." He sighed at his inability to just get him off the hook. "I can't let you two off without proof that you wouldn't ever say that."

"Uchiha... you know I'd never say that."

Sasuke sighed in ultimate frustration and rubbed his temple. A thought struck him. "Tenten."

"Yeah?"

"You're the only one he isn't friends with... Do you think he'd say something like that?"

"Uhm..." She seemed to be in thought and rested on her desk to create dramatic effect.

"Tenten..." Sasuke seemed to shoot flames at her as she lagged on the conversation.

"No. I don't."

"There you have it. Problem solved."

"But Sasuke-kun!!" Sakura interrupted as she stood back up. "That isn't fair!!"

"It's decided Haruno. Nothing is going to happen. Be happy," he ordered. "I could send you out for disorderly conduct."

"Sasuke-kun!" she cried. "You'd normally side with anyone over Naruto!! What happened?"

Sasuke smirked. "Are you really that upset that I went against you, Haruno?"

"No! I want to know why you're defending him!! When you came back, you hated him!! It's been two days since I saw you last, you still hated him, and now you're kind to him!!"

"I'll bet." Sasuke sat in his seat and leaned back, waiting for his teacher to show up like the rest of the class. Sakura took it upon herself to confront him further on his actions.

"Sasuke-kun... Why are you being so nice about this?"

"I feel sorry for him."

"Why?"

"That's none of your business."

"But--!!"

Sasuke raised his hand to silence her. He lowered it once she stopped and sighed, rubbing at his shoulder. One of the kittens had attacked him in the night. "Do you want to know?"

"Yes!!"

"What if I said he was my boyfriend?" The room was iced over with a sheet of stunned silence. "Well, what would you say then?"

"Uhm..." She sputtered out incoherant syllables to compinsate for her uneasiness. "Did you really say that? Are you dating? Does that mean that you're gay? If so... since when?!"

A smirk inched aross the pale boy's lips. "I'm joking. Go sit somewhere."

"Naruto sighed miserably as he watched her walk back to her seat next to him. Was what the Uchiha said true? Or was something else troubling the petite boy? Said blonde looked for the person trying to narrate his life. He rolled his eyes when he found him. The student stopped and asked a question. What's up?"

"Go away Kiba," he ordered before folding his arms over his desk and resting his chin in them.

"What's up with you?" the brunette asked, sliding to sit on the corner of the already crowded area. "Hey!" he said poking his friend when he got no answer.

"Did'joo talk to Shino??" Naruto asked, never looking up from his nesting area.

"No," Kiba admitted woefully. "He actually refuses to see me. I guess we really are through, huh?"

"I'm sorry to hear that. You sound upset."

"Oh, that's not why I'm upset. If he doesn't like me, then hell, I'll move on."

"Then what is it?" the blonde asked, looking toward his friend indifferently.

"Aww... Naruto... Please don't look at me out of spite? I hate it."

"Was I?!" the tiny teen cried as he sat back up. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! Are you mad??"

"Are you okay??" Kiba inquired as he put an arm between them for safety.

Naruto pushed out a sigh. "Yeah. So tell me, what's up?"

"I guess Shino just isn't interested anymore."

Naruto scowled. "Nuuuu... I meant what's got you despondent?"

"Oh that." The spikey, brown-haired boy scratched the back of his head before continuing. "Not only is Shino not talking to me, but neither is Hinata. So, it doesn't help much that I'm in hers and Neji's project group because, you know, I don't talk to him."

"Oh... that sucks."

"Yeah. But, on the plus side-- Kankurou says Neji hasn't gotten upset about his breaking up with him."

"So?"

"Sooooo... he said he's giving up on him."

"And that makes you happy?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It very well does!!" How could people not know that Kiba was bi? He was so loud about everything he said. Maybe they just ignored him? That's what Naruto used to do.

"I'm glad for you," Naruto stated with a smile. "I only wish I could say the same for me," he added in a hushed sigh.

"Naruto? Not happy? Over somthing other than his job? Really now?" He rubbed at the blonde locks to hopefully rejuvinate his friend's mood. "Do tell. What it is ma cheríe?"

"Hmm..." Naruto pursed his lips in thought. "Sure. I'm associated with a million fake people, my job gives me hell, I've got to find time off from everything by Friday, and I have to travel across town Saturday. Not all that fun."

"Oh, well... I'm sorry to hear that. I wish I could say something to make it better but... you know."

"You hate that I have that one job that makes me go across town, right?"

"Exactly!!" Kiba slid off the desk and patted Naruto's shoulder before going to his desk again. "I'll see you when class is over, alright?"

"M'kay." He collapsed back onto his desk and closed his eyes, waiting for the sweet, platonic embrace of the Sandman to take him away. For once, he thought he was going to get it. Sadly though, his peaceful slumber was interrupted. He could feel himself wiggling in his seat as that same old repeating dream started up again. He tried to wake himself up, but the image of his parents being slaughted after he left kept him glued into his dreamland.

Kityasha saw fit to take over before he freaked out, and he did so just before the blonde let out a piercing scream. The aggressive sub-being silenced his opening mouth and sat up. He rubbed at his eyes before looking around the room. He spotted that pink blob next to him, the Beetles kid across the room, Naruto's two best friends and-- there!! He smiled when he finally caught sight of Sasuke the next seat over. He thought about what could be done. The way he saw it, there were three options: One, he could stay in his seat. Next!! Two, he could call him over and begin a conversation. Wrong!! He settled for the third choice. He slid out of his seat and sauntered over to the other's area.

"Hey Uchiha," he said easily, bending over to peer into Sasuke's face.

"Alright, Uzumaki??" the obsidian-eyed teen asked.

"Of course." Kityasha settled the frail body to sit comfortably on the edge of the desk just as Kiba had done earlier. "What's up?"

"Are you okay??" He could have taken the nod for an answer, but Sasuke knew better than that. "Come here," he ordered. The blonde did so, and Sasuke let a smirk play its way across his features. "Thought you had me, huh?"

"Not really, no," Kityasha admitted. "I just wanted to say hi. I told you the difference between Naruto and me yesterday, right?"

"You mean the difference that really doesn't matter now?"

"What?" The blonde pulled back a little. "What do you mean by that, Uchiha?"

Sasuke lowered his voice to a dull whisper. "I mean that all that is settled. Doesn't matter if he's straight, he likes me."

"What makes you so sure I'm not the only one who really does?" Kityasha asked just a little offended.

"Because he asked me," Sasuke said triumphantly.

"What?? That's not fair..." He tossed his icy blue eyes to the ground before turning to Sasuke again, pout firmly in place. "I don't care."

"Eh?"

"I'm going to get him to ditch you!!" He was assertive but careful to stay quiet.

"For what?"